Pivoted link chain



Dec. 26, 1944.. L. E SIMMONS 2,365,911

PIVOTED LINK CHAIN Filed Nov. 26, 1942 f Egli. A 0" Patented Dec. 26, 1944 Y" UNIT-Eo sfmfriss PATENT omer.

LeonrE.` Simrmnlis,V ClaremontQN. H., assigner to Sullivan Machinery Company, a corporation of Massachusetts 'Application` November 26, 19.42,.S'erialrNo;,466,995

si'craiins. (ci. 'J4-"2521i r*inventionfrelatesftoipivoted link chains; and'imolre partieularlyto improvement'sin cutter chainstespecially" designed for `use inthe mining of coal. "1A5n1otiject1oi` thepresentinvention is to provide animproved pivoted' chain; f Another object isto providelaimprovedi chain having novel-pivotal connections betweenv the associated chain elementsf -A-.f'urther' object -is to `provicleanVA improvedihing'e pin construction' for acutter chain. Yet another object-iste provideV an improved; lock foilholding the hinge pin bushings stationary with respectitofthe chain' `block bores. A still further objectiisiitozprovide an improved means for; hold-- ing therhingepinl against axial displacement these and other objects'in' view, this inven` tieni relates-to certain novel ffeatures oi constructi'ornoperati'on, yand arrangement of parts, an example of which is given in the specification andfiillustrated'tin the accompanying drawing, Wherein'c I Vliig.;Lisiaside elevational' view of! a section of thef cutter 'chairr` constructed inf accordance with an'.illustrative` embodiment o i `the invention'.

lFigf- 21's adetail cross' sectional view takeny substantiallyfOriliney oi l'ig.V 1i.

' projecting within notches' r'Fig. 132 isi al'view inD longitudinali sectionttaken substantially? on line 31-3 I of Fig. 1.

li'ig; sista verticalrsectional tially on lock'..

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of pin parts. V

In this illustrative embodiment of the invention, there is shown a cutter chain comprising a, series of chain blocks I pivotally connected together by a series of strap links 2. The cutter chain is adapted to travel about the margin of a conventional cutter bar, and the strap links have lateral gibs 3 adapted to engage thecutter bar guideways in a Well known manner. The chain blocks have'lateral lugs 4 having sockets for the reception of usual cutter bits 5, the latter being held in position by conventional set screws S.

The chain blocks ha-ve transverse bores l, and the strap links have bores 8 in registry with the block bores, and the strap link bores have end enlargements or recesses 9. Arranged in the bores of the blocks are pivot elements or bushings I0, and extending through these bushings and disline 4-4 of Fig, showing the bushing one of the hinge view taken substaneposed in the strap link bores are hinge pins I I of 'enlargements of the-.strap link bores.

outerhinge pin Darts I5.

between 1 the4 transverse bores l, and.' arranged in the bores lf2. are-lock pins I3V having their ends Il!V in the bushings; for locking4 thev latter against'rotation inl the block bores. By holding the bushings'against rotation relative to rtheI blocks, `wear is concentrated Von the bushings Which are must cheaper to replace than the` chain blocks. f

The hinge pins eachv comprise three separable partsinclnding'a pair of cooperating, nearlysemicylindrical; pin elements I 5` havingii'angelike` end enlargementsor projections Iii adapted tobe `re- K ceiyedlintheend enlargements 5ir oi the strap link bores" andi so shapedv as to be withdrawable through the bores of the b-ushingswhenthe spacer elementsfnext` to bedescribedl are removed. 'Interposed between the outer pin parts I5: isI a, 'spacer' element or intermediate pin part Il inthe form ot a-.rectangulai1 plate which serves to hold the. Outer-Spin parts I in proper spacedI relation with the end' enlargements Hi seated in they end When the pinV enlargements are positioned in the bore en largernents.` the strap `links are held' together* by the pinsfv This rectangular spacer plate II'Iis. slotted at' i8, andf the: portions i9 o-f the spacer plate are adapted'fto be bent laterally into slots 2Ilin the`-outer`sides of the strap links in the manner showninFig. 3J to lock the hinge pin partsA against axial displacement. The spacer plate isfpreierablyl slotted at both sides so that it` can be ree versed when desired.

When it is desired to remove the hinge pins, the bent portions I9 of the'spacer plates may be straghtened to release the same from the notches 2U in the strap links, thereby to free the spacer plates for endwise removal from between the Upon removal of the intermediate spacer plates the outer pin parts may be easilyremoved from the bushing and strap link bores in an obvious manner. When the strap links are detached from the chain blocks the bushings I0 may be easily driven `out of the chain block bores Without disturbing the locking pins I3, the bushings being movable axially to release their notches I4 from engagement with the Vends of the locking pin. It is accordingly evident that a novel hinge pin structure is provided which may be easily put together or taken apart and which is of relatively inexpensive design, enabling ready and inexpensive replacement of Worn or broken parts. By constructing the hinge pin parts in the manner disclosed, the hinge pin and bushings are positively locked in assembled relation. The pin lock for lthe bushings prevents therotation of the bushings, thereby eliminating wear of the block bores. The bushings likewise may be readily and inexpensively replaced when worn. Other uses and advantages of the invention Will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

While there is in this application specically described one form which the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form of the same is shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: p Y Y l. In a pivoted link chain, a chain element hav- Ping transverse bores, bushings fitted in said bores, and a common locking element extending between said bushings for holding the latter against rotation in said bores.

2. In a pivoted link chain, a chain element having transverse bores, bushings fitted in said bores, a longitudinal bore extending between said transverse bores, and a pin arranged in said longitudinal bore and engaging said bushings for locking the latter against rotation in said transverse bores.

3. In a pivoted link chain, a chain element having transverse bores, bushings fitted in said bores, a longitudinal bore extending between said transverse bores, and a pin arranged in said longitudinal bore and engaging said bushings for locking the latter against rotation in said transverse bores, said bushings being notched to receive the ends of said pin.

4. In a ,pivoted link chain, pivotally connected chain elements, one of said elements having transverse bores, pivot elements received in said bores respectively, and a holding member extending longitudinally of said transversely bored element between the bores thereof and engaging said pivot elements for holding the latter against rotation in said transverse bores, said holding member being common to both pivot elements.

5. As a part of a pivot element for a pivoted link chain, a flat rectangular spacer element adapted to space associated elements and having its ends slotted longitudinally to provide relatively lexible, laterally bendable locking portions at the ends of said spacer element and at each side thereof, the locking portion at one side of each end of said spacer element being bendable laterally into locking relation with an associated chain link, and said'bent locking portions when straightened permitting endwise release of said spacer element in either direction, said spacer element being reversible with respect to its associated elements and positionable in a reversed spacing position to bring the locking portions at the other side thereof into effect.

6. As a part of a pivot element for a pivoted link chain, a flat rectangular spacer element adapted to space associated elements and having relatively flexible, laterally bendable locking portions at its ends and at each side thereof, the locking portion at one side of each end of said spacer element being bendable laterally into locking relation with an associated chain link, and said bent locking portions when straightened permitting endwise release of said spacer element in either direction, said spacer element being reversible with respect to its associated elements and disposable in a reversed spacing position to bring the locking portions at the other side thereof into effect. Y

7. In a chain, pivotally connected chain elements, one of which has transverse bores, pivot elements received in said bores respectively and each having a notch opening through an end thereof, and a holding member extending longitudinally of said transversely bored element between the bores thereof and having its ends received in said notches for holding said pivot elements against rotation in said transverse bores,

said holding member being common to both pivot.

elements, and said notches permitting axial release of said pivot elements from said transverse bores while said holding member remains stationary with respect to its associated chain elenient.

8. As a part of a pivot element for a pivoted link chain, a flat rectangular spacer element adapted to space associated elements and having its ends slotted longitudinally near one side to provide relatively iiexible, laterally bendable locking portions, said locking portions being bendable laterally into locking relation with an associated chain link, and said bent locking portions when straightened permitting endwise release of said spacer element with respect to its associated elements in either direction.

f LEON E. SIMMONS. 

